IYENGAR YOGA
A BRIEF HISTORY OF IYENGAR YOGA
Although we are located in northwest Montana, we are part of the greater lineage of Iyengar Yoga.
The Iyengar yoga method was created and developed in the mid-1900s by B.K.S. Iyengar. Mr. Iyengar devoted his life to the evolution of his approach to yoga, which is based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga codified 2500 years ago by the sage, Patanjali.
​
Iyengar brought yoga to the west with his teaching in the 1960s and ’70s, fueling the popularity we see today. His book, Light on Yoga, has been the sourcebook for generations of yoga students.
B.K.S. Iyengar passed away in 2014 at the age of 96. His daughter Geeta Iyengar carried on the tradition until she passed away in 2018. His son, Prashant Iyengar, and his granddaughter, Abhijata Iyengar, as well as many highly trained teachers, carry on Iyengar’s work, teaching scores of local and international students at the Ramamani Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India.
WHAT MAKES IYENGAR UNIQUE?
SEQUENCING
Each class is a unique sequence of poses developed by the teacher to encourage gradual but steady progress rather than quick and fleeting results.
ALIGNMENT
Yoga is more than just a physical endeavor; poses and breath awareness are a tool for cultivating steadiness and developing self awareness.
PROPS
Iyengar Yoga utilizes props to assist students within a pose, providing support to the less flexible and extension to the more advanced student.
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED IYENGAR YOGA TEACHER?
Iyengar Yoga is differentiated from other methods by a worldwide, standardized system of instruction. Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYTs) undergo a minimum of six years of training and assessment to earn their certification. Every CIYT is dedicated to the ongoing study and practice of yoga. Learn more about Teacher Certification.
MEET YOUR TEACHERS
Erin Burke-Webster
Perceptive. Caring. Creative.
Riverstone Yoga Center Co-founder
Level 2 CIYT and C-IAYT (Certified Yoga Therapist)
​
Erin (she/her) started practicing yoga to relieve stress and back pain in 2010 and found Iyengar yoga compelling; even though the practice is old, it gave her a new perspective on the mind-body connection. Erin works to empower students to understand how yoga can help create a more balanced state of mind and ease in the body; she has a gentle approach to her teaching.
Ashley Tetu
Fun. Dynamic. Insightful.
Riverstone Yoga Center Co-founder
Level 1 CIYT
​
Ashley (she/her) was first drawn to Iyengar yoga by the precision and clarity of instruction. She appreciates the deep potential of yoga to enhance well-being at the most subtle levels, and credits her yoga practice with alleviating her chronic migraines. She teaches with a sense of curiosity and fun, guiding students to discover the depth and wonder of yoga for themselves.
Jennie Williford
Challenging. Patient. Lighthearted.
Level 3 CIYT
Jennie (she/her) was a too-brief resident of Kalispell, MT from 2015 to 2019. She now lives in LaCrosse, WI, and her many moves and five visits to India have informed her approach to yoga as an exploration and investigation of the self. Jennie hopes to share her excitement and enthusiasm for the path of yoga with every student she comes across and knows that though the subject of yoga can be serious and intense at times, we don’t need to take ourselves so seriously in the process.
Ananda Johnson
Steady. Introspective. Content.
Level 1 CIYT
Ananda (she/her) is a full-time chef at a ranch and retreat center, which she calls her retirement adventure. She has been practicing yoga for decades and believes that yoga helps to bring in to balance her body, mind, and spirit in the midst of a very active life. Ananda works to inspire others to utilize this beautiful, intelligent practice to expand awareness and to maintain a strong and flexible body. Teaching yoga in the Iyengar method serves to sharpen the intellect and deepens her own practice.